If any bishop ordained to a
parish shall not proceed to the parish to which he has been ordained,
not through any fault of his own, but either because of the rejection
of the people, or for any other reason not arising from himself, let
him enjoy his rank and ministry; only he shall not disturb the affairs
of the Church which he joins; and he shall abide by whatever the full
synod of the province shall determine, after judging the case.

Notes.

Ancient Epitome of Canon
XVIII.

Let a bishop ordained but not received by his city have
his part of the honour, and offer the liturgy only, waiting for the
synod of the province to give judgment.

Balsamon.

In canon xvij. the fathers punished him who when
ordained could not be persuaded to go to the church to which he was
assigned. In the present canon they grant pardon to him who is
willing to take the charge of the diocese, for which he was
consecrated, but is prevented from doing so by the impudence of the
people or else by the incursions of the infidel; and therefore they
allow him to enjoy, in whatever province he may happen to be, the
honour due his rank, viz., his throne, his title, and the exercise of
the episcopal office, with the knowledge and consent of the bishop of
the diocese. He must not, however, meddle with the affairs of the
church of which he is a guest, that is to say he must not teach, nor
ordain, nor perform any episcopal act without the consent of the bishop
of the diocese; but he must observe quiet, until he learns what he
ought to do by the determination of the full Synod.

Aristenus explains that by keeping quiet is intended
that he should not “use any military help or other
power.”

This canon is found twice in the Corpus Juris
Canonici, Gratian’s Decretum, Pars I., Dist. xcii., c.
iv. and v.; in the versions of Martin Bracarensis and of
Dionysius.